It usually takes more than simply watering and mowing every so often to keep a lawn looking healthy. If your lawn is growing in sub-optimal conditions, it cannot easily fight off competing plants. Weeds and crabgrass can quickly spread, ruining your yard’s health and the beauty of your landscaping. Whether you’re an expert gardener or just starting out with lawn care, learn more about preventing crabgrass in your yard and how to stop other weeds as well.
What Is Crabgrass?
Crabgrass is an invasive plant that spreads rapidly and is notoriously difficult to eradicate once it takes root. It is an annual summer plant that sprouts in the spring, matures over the summer, and then dies off in autumn. Crabgrass grows most abundantly in full sun. It tends to take over places where grass is thin or weak from a lack of water or bad soil.
Two species of crabgrass, large crabgrass and smooth crabgrass, are prevalent in Christiansburg, VA. Even though smooth crabgrass is more prevalent and grows more narrowly, both varieties can be problematic if left unmanaged.
What Other Weeds Grow Here?
During the warmer months, Christiansburg is prone to crabgrass and several other weeds. These weeds love unattended lawns and areas where the grass is under a lot of stress.
Dandelions
These perennial weeds’ fluffy seed heads and golden blossoms make them easy to see. If left unchecked, they tend to spread rapidly and eventually take over. The deep taproots on dandelions will store energy. If the top of the weed is removed without this root, it will regrow in short order.
Chickweeds
An annual weed that grows rapidly and does well in damp, shaded places. The plant has white blossoms and tiny, spherical leaves.
Clover
Clover may function as low-maintenance ground cover in some lawns but is also considered a weed. It tends to grow most in areas with poor soil. This can be a benefit to the soil, as it is a legume and therefore a nitrogen fixer.
Plantain
The tall seed stalk and wide leaves of a plantain weed are distinct characteristics of this invasive plant. Their preferred environments include compacted soils and untended lawns.
Bindweed
Sometimes called wild morning glory, this weed is a pest in gardens and lawns. It entangles itself with other plants and grass, stunting and weakening them.
Best Weed Control Methods
Effectively controlling weeds for a healthy, happy, cared-for yard requires various approaches. Here’s a close look at some of the best techniques.
Selective Herbicides
Selective herbicides are perfect for eradicating certain weeds, such as clover or dandelions, without harming your grass. You can choose between post-emergent and pre-emergent treatment options depending on when you need to apply them.
Careless use of selective herbicides may harm valuable plants, so read and follow all directions carefully. Apply them while the weeds are still actively growing to get the most out of them.
Pre-emergent herbicides act as a soil barrier by stopping weed seeds, such as crabgrass, from germinating. There are two main categories: chemical and natural pre-emergent herbicides. Although chemical pre-emergents work, they aren’t always eco-friendly. Alternative pre-emergents made of natural ingredients, such as corn gluten meal, accomplish the same goal without harming animals or helpful insects.
Applying pre-emergent herbicides in the spring is ideal since they kill weeds before they sprout. This will help keep your lawn and garden weed-free all summer, saving you the trouble of dealing with invasive weeds later.
Post-emergent herbicides work best for actively growing weeds, broadleaf weeds and perennial weeds. The best time to apply them is in early summer when the weeds fully mature and grow. As with pre-emergent herbicides, you must be very careful with timing and application. You don’t want to apply them during windy or rainy conditions, as this can spread the herbicide to unintended areas.
Mulching
Mulching with organic or inorganic materials can prevent weed seeds from germinating and reduce weed development. Decomposing organic mulches (e.g., leaves, straw or wood chips) enhances soil quality.
Mulch is useful for controlling soil temperature, preventing soil erosion and keeping soil wet. Be careful not to smother your plants under an excessively thick layer of mulch; a thickness of two to three inches should be sufficient.
Manual Weeding
Hand weeding is the quickest and most efficient method for some weeds. To ensure the weeds don’t grow back, use a hoe or hand weeder and be sure to pull out the roots. The best time to do hand weeding is when the soil is wet, making it easier to pull out the whole root. Although it takes a lot of work, manual weeding, when done regularly, may provide excellent results.
Proper Lawn Care
A healthy lawn is your greatest protection against weeds. Regular mowing, fertilizing and watering will naturally choke out most weeds. You should aim for a weekly rainfall or irrigation total of 1 to 1.5 inches of water for your grass. The ideal height to mow your grass is 2.5 to 3 inches if you want it to grow robust and sturdy.
Smothering Weeds
Smothering is an excellent method for dealing with large areas of weeds. It involves covering the weeds with cardboard, newspaper or plastic. Over time, the weeds will wither and die without sunshine. Although it takes time, smothering is an effective method for eliminating weeds without harmful chemicals.
Lawn Aeration
If you want healthier grass and fewer weeds, aerate your lawn once a year, ideally in the spring or autumn. Lawn aeration entails creating tiny pores in the soil to enhance the entry of air, water, and nutrients. This promotes deeper root development in the grass and helps alleviate soil compaction. Another benefit of aeration is that it improves the penetration of pre-emergent herbicides into the soil, which protects against weeds.
Reasons to Let a Professional Take Care of Weed Control
When there are many weeds to control, it can be difficult to maintain your lawn. Investing in a professional lawn care service is a smart choice for many homeowners. Professional lawn care providers know what weeds to look for and how to treat them effectively. Plus, they have access to commercially-quality pesticides and equipment that are much more effective than OTC alternatives.
Ultimately, lawn care experts know when to apply treatments like selective sprays and pre-emergent herbicides so you get the greatest results. They can help you spot weed problems you may otherwise not know about. For example, if your lawn has broadleaf weeds, they can affect your grass’s overall appearance and health. An expert can identify the specific weeds and choose a solution like selective herbicides so your lawn remains healthy and weed-free.
Here at All Natural Tree Experts, we offer a wide range of lawn care solutions, including lawn fertilization, aeration, seeding, soil testing and much more. We want to help you create the most beautiful and healthy yard possible. Call us today to schedule professional lawn care services in Christiansburg.
